A month into the Jaguars’ 2026 season, one thing is already clear: the 2025 draft class has given this team real juice, even if not every pick has hit the same way.
The headliner is Travis Hunter, who has wasted no time becoming a difference-maker on defense. Through four games, he has already pushed himself into the conversation as the Jaguars’ best cornerback, and maybe even one of their three best defenders overall behind only Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. For a player with just 11 career games and only four of them coming with this level of focus at corner, that says plenty about how quickly his game has translated.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen pointed to that sharper focus Friday, saying, “I think just any time you put a little bit more time into one job, it helps provide some clarity for the player and for him to be able to go play fast with a lot of confidence where he knows what he's doing a little bit more, where he's been more focused at that side of the football," Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said Friday. "Defense is so much-everybody thinks offense is more complicated, whereas defense is so much more communication in terms of the other guys and what their jobs are and how you're tied into that.
I think he's done a nice job. I've been pleased with some of the confidence he continues to build.”
Hunter’s work has already made him look like more than just a promising piece. He has been a game-changer in Duval, and by the end of the season he could be viewed as a top-10 cornerback in the NFL.
Bhayshul Tuten has also been one of the biggest early wins from that 2025 class. He’s been among the best running backs in the league over the first month, giving Jacksonville another immediate impact player. Rayuan Lane has added value too, and depth pieces like LeQuint Allen and Jonah Monheim have chipped in as well.
But the class hasn’t been a clean sweep. Wyatt Milum remains only a backup and doesn’t appear close to a bigger role.
Caleb Ransaw is on injured reserve after a knee injury and will miss at least a month. Jack Kiser still hasn’t been active.
There are clear success stories here, but there are also second-year players who have not done enough yet.
The bigger-picture picture along the offensive line is still unsettled, too. Jacksonville has used the same five starters in every game so far, but the unit has had its share of ups and downs, and there’s reason to keep options open moving forward.
Rookie guard Emmanuel Pregnon should be back in the lineup next year, but other spots are less certain. Anton Harrison has shown flashes at left tackle, but he has also had some rough stretches, and it’s fair to question whether he has done enough to warrant a contract extension there just yet. Cole Van Lanen should still be in the mix because of his deal, though the Jaguars still need more tackle depth.
At center, Robert Hainsey could face competition from Jonah Monheim next season. Ezra Cleveland is in a contract year and is unlikely to be extended. So while the Jaguars have already found some real value from the 2025 draft, the 2026 season has also made it plain that the work on this roster is far from finished.
In Other News...
Marvin Harrison Jr. Just Got A Telling Place In Trade Chatter
Trade chatter has started to swirl around a familiar cluster of young receivers, and it now includes Marvin Harrison Jr., Brian Thomas Jr. and Jerry Jeudy as the deadline approaches. An assistant general manager even floated the possibility that Thomas and Jeudy could be moved before the NFLs Nov. 10 deadline, which is the kind of speculation that quickly turns into league-wide conversation when teams start looking for help at wide receiver.
For Jaguars fans, the Brian Thomas Jr. angle is the one worth monitoring most closely, because his name is suddenly being discussed in the same breath as some of the more prominent trade possibilities on the board. A number of teams, including the Colts, 49ers, Chiefs, Raiders, Bills and Texans, have been mentioned as possible receiver destinations, and once that many clubs enter the discussion, the noise tends to linger until the deadline itself sorts out which rumors were real and which were just early-season leverage plays. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Catch Eagles Amid Sudden QB Uncertainty Before Sunday
The week before a road game can change quickly in the NFL, and Jacksonville suddenly finds itself facing a different-looking Eagles depth chart than the one it expected. Philadelphia released veteran quarterback Andy Dalton ahead of Sundays matchup, leaving Tanner McKee and Cole Payton as the backups behind Jalen Hurts while the Jaguars get ready for a team already dealing with more than one roster shakeup.
For Jacksonville, the timing adds another layer to a matchup that was already drawing attention because of Philadelphias recent moves. The Eagles also sent center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens and ruled Saquon Barkley out for Week 5 with an injury, creating more uncertainty around a roster that is still trying to settle in. The Jaguars wont be able to do much about the Eagles personnel decisions, but they now have a clearer sense that Sunday could look different than it did even a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars London Game Just Added A Halftime Spotlight Fans May Not Expect
The Jaguars trip to London already carries plenty of attention, and the halftime stage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is adding another layer. Ayra Starr, the Beninese-Nigerian singer and songwriter, is slated to perform when Jacksonville meets the Eagles, giving the game a spotlight that stretches well beyond the field and into the citys music scene.
Starr arrives with a growing profile of her own, including two Grammy nominations and a third studio album, Starrgirl. The NFL has been emphasizing her as a generational talent with ties to both the London market and African music, a fitting fit for one of the leagues international showcases and a reminder that these overseas games are built to reach far past the usual football audience. [Read more 🡒]